Vehicle-wheel.



E. BUGATTI.

VEHIOLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12,1913.

Patented July 28, 1911 I 11672 for:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ETTORE BUGATTI, OF MOLSHEIM, GERMANY.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ETTORE BUoA'r'rr, a subject of the King'of Italy, and residing at Molsheim, Alsace, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehicleWheels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to improvements in vehicle wheels, and relates more particularly to improvements in demountable wheels such as are extensively used in automobiles for instance, and the particular object of the invention is to provide means whereby a wheel that may have become damaged may readily be exchanged for a reserve wheel and this latter then quickly and securely attached to the axle.

My improved construction is explained 2,0 through. reference to the accompany ng drawing, in which-- igure 1 represents a vertlcal, longitudisection through a wheel-hub, embodying the essential features of my invention; Fig. 2 shows a horizontal, longitudinal section therethrough, and Fig. 3 shows a vertical cross-section on line AB of Fig. 2. The auxiliary or inner hub a, is rotatably *secured on the wheel axle in any suitable 80 manner, not specially shown, preferably by means of ball-bearings. At-the outer free end this hub is reduced to form a trunnionshaped tubular extension I) with screw threads b at the extremity, upon which screws nut 0. Between this latter and the annular face a of the auxiliary hub a rides on the trunnion b the sleeve d, adapted to be rotatably operated by means of a socket wrench, or like suitable tool. This sleeve 01, 40 being thus secured against axial-displace' ment, is provided at its inner, preferably enlarged end, with exterior screw-threads d, with which threads the annulus e of the main or outer hub e, which latter fits a snugly over the inner hub a, and carries at i\outer cup-shaped end the spokes 0. By tu ing the sleeve one way or the other, the outer hub e may be brought into, or out of, frictional contact with the inner hub a.

For securing the sleeve cl against selfr0- tation there is provided centrally of the whole device a conically tapering screw bolt f, whose inner end 9 screws into the inner hub a, and whose outer end is squared or prismatically shaped, as at i. In the inbular extension I) are provided two opposite Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 12, 1913.

Patented July 28, 1914.

Serial No. 753,775.

slots in which slide loosely the wedges h, whose wedge surface corresponds to the taper of the screw bolt. By rotating this latter, its threaded end 9 screwing into the inner hub a, these oppositely disposed wedges are forced outwardly, radially of the screw bolt axis, againstthe inner circumference of the sleeve d.

For securing the screw bolt against working loose, there is provided a locking cap Z, having an internal toothed rim is and snugly fitting over the profiled head i of the screw bolt; a corresponding toothed rim n is provided on the outer circumference of the nut c. A compression spring m tends to ordinarily hold the cap in the operative position, shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The bolt 7 and the nut c are provided with right and left threads respectively, so that the parts are secured against inadvertently jarring loose.

Upon applying a socket wrench to the profiled screw bolt head in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the cap is pressed inwardly against the action of the spring m (bro-ken line position in Fig. 1), with the result that the toothed rims k, n become disengaged, when the screw bolt can freely be rotated. The wrench being withdrawn, the cap will recede again into the locking position.

For the purpose of removing a damaged wheel, the wrench is applied with inward pressure and the bolt f is loosened, when the wedges will recede into their seat slots releasing thereby the sleeve 0,. This latter can now freely be rotated whereby the outer hub is axially withdrawn from off the inner hub. The new wheel is then put on and the sleeve d is rotated in the reverse direction, which causes the new outer hub to screw onto the sleeve until the two hubs are pressed tight upon one another. Then the bolt f is rotated, its threaded inner end screwing into the inner hub, when the wedges it will be forced outwardly again inradial direction and assure the operative position of the sleeve (1. On withdrawal of the wrench, the cap Z will automatically assume the position in which the screw bolt and the nut are securely locked against jarring loose.

What I claim is: I

1.. In a vehicle-wheel hub, in combination, an outer spokesupportin hub, an inner hub, a trunnion having radial slots coaxially integral with said inner hub, a. sleeve on said memb having radial slots, a sleeve on said trunnion,

a screw connection between said sleeve and said outer hub, means for preventing axial displacement of said sleeve on said trunnion, and means for preventing rotary displacement of said sleeve on said trunnion comprising wedge members operable in said trunnion slots and a conically tapering screw bolt adapted to screw into the inner hub and its taper part cooperating with said wedge ers.

3. In a vehicle-wheel hub, in combination, an outer hub, an inner hub, a tubular trunnion to said inner hub having oppositely disposed, radial slots, a sleeve on said trunnion, a screw connection between said sleeve and said outer hub for frictionally pressing both said hubs upon one another, means for pre venting axial displacement of said sleeve on said trunnion comprising a thread on the reduced free end of said trunnion and a nut fitting this thread, means for preventing rotary displacement of said sleeve on said trunnion, comprising wedge members operable in said trunnion slots and a conically tapering screw bolt, screwing with its inner end into said inner hub and having its other end profiled and its taper part adapted to cooperate with said wedge members, and means for locking said screw bolt and said nut, comprising an axially yieldable cap fitting said profiled screw bolt end, a toothed rim at the inner circumference of said cap, a toothed rim --at the outer circumference at the outer end of said nut, said two rims adapted to be brought into, and out of, operative engagement with each other by respective axial displacement of said cap, and spring means for ordinarily keeping the said toothed rims in mesh.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

a ETTORE BUGATTI. Witnesses:

JOSEPH Romunn, CHARLES HALLEY, Jr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Oommissi ner of Patents. Washington, D. G." 

